Ping, J/D, rated PG

[sid]

This idea came to me one night, and I began writing it the next day but didn't get very far. By the time I came back to it, I'd forgotten where it was going. Note to self: briefly outline from now on.

Anyway, I found a place to take it, and a title that has so many delightful applications (which a little googling for definitions will find for you.) For me, the dynamic between the boys here puts this in Season One, but other interpretations are possible, and I'd be interested in hearing what you think.


Ping

Daniel hadn't been expecting company, and when his doorbell rang he wasn't expecting to find Jack in the hallway.

"Hello."

"Uh, hi. Come on…" Daniel closed the door behind Jack. "What, uh…?"

"Straight to the point."

Daniel pushed his glasses up. "Okay," he said cautiously.

Jack's mouth twitched. "Thing is…not to put too fine a point on it, whatever that means…"

Daniel opened his mouth.

Jack raised a finger. "Another time."

"Sure." Daniel shifted his weight. "Am I in trouble?"

"Do I look angry?"

Daniel surveyed him. "No. On edge, maybe."

Jack's left shoulder went up an inch. "Thing is, I hear things."

"Things?"

"I hear you're queer."

Daniel froze except for his jaw, which he could feel dropping in slow motion.

Jack's hands moved back and forth horizontally between them. "Can we sit down?" When Daniel didn't respond, Jack took him by the shoulder and turned him, walking them both into the living room and pressing Daniel down onto the sofa before sitting in the chair at the end of the coffee table. "Mind you, I'm not asking."

"Not…"

"I know. You're not military. Still not asking. Or caring. Let's be clear about that."

The icy rock in Daniel's stomach didn't react at all. "Why....?"

"I don't like hearing it. It's not my business if it's true or not, but having a rumor like that going around…"

"Reflects on you?"

"Not what I was going to say."

"Then say what you have to say. Then you can leave."

Jack looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Those sorts of rumors don't do anybody any good. Not good for the team, the SGC, or you least of all. Again, this isn't about who you are."

"It's about appearances."

"Yeah. And, yeah, I know, it should never be about that. But we've got eyes on us, Daniel."

Daniel nodded slowly. "The program is under scrutiny."

"Always. That's not ever going to change. We're always going to have enemies, as well as neutrals who can be swayed the wrong way by the wrong thing."

"Like a queer SG team member."

"It isn't even that. It's the rumor. If it were something openly acknowledged, sure, there would still be haters, but…"

"Are you asking me to come out of the closet?"

"I just told you, I'm not asking anything. In fact, I wouldn't advise it."

Daniel sat with his mouth open for a while before asking, "Are you trying to give me a headache?"

Jack's face relaxed for the first time since Daniel had opened his door. "Sorry. Me…bush…beating…"

"I'm not…fragile, Jack."

"Maybe I am."

"Now I'm really lost."

"I guess what I'm trying to get across is that discretion is the better part of yadda, yadda, yadda."

"I don't think I recognize that quote."

"Daniel."

"What? What do you want?"

"I want these rumors to go away. I want to know that you're safe from…assumptions. Prejudices. Physical and verbal attack. I want less unwelcome focus on my team. I want the program as safe from politicians as…well, that part's just dreaming."

"You want me to be more discreet."

"Hey, I'm not even aware of anything that you need to be discreet about. And I'm a pretty sharp guy. That's what I like to tell myself, anyway."

"Uh-huh."

"I'm just presenting you with the idea that if changes are necessary, making those changes would be for the best." Jack stood up. "But, you know, don't change who you are."

Daniel looked up at him. "Who do you think I am?"

There was warmth in Jack's eyes, tinged with sadness. "It doesn't matter to me."

Daniel stood up. "Maybe it matters to me."

They stood and looked at each other for a minute. Daniel could see Jack thinking.

"Look. All I'm saying…"

Daniel sighed.

"Listen to me."

Daniel looked at Jack's face, his eyes. Unreadable, but there was something…

"I am telling you that it is possible to fly underneath the Air Force's radar. I'm telling you that it can be done."

Jack was telling him a lot more than that. Daniel was stunned.

"You hear me?"

"Yes. Thank you." Thank you for trusting me with your secret.

"Sweet." One corner of Jack's mouth jerked up. "Guess I'll get out of your hair."

"And I guess I'll see you in the morning."

They moved toward the door in silence. Jack opened it, stepped through, and pulled it shut behind him without a backward glance.

Daniel walked slowly back into his living room and stood there for a long time, thinking about valor.

Comments

[freyasboy]

Mmmm! Niiiiiice! I like that. Very much.

Can I see a sequel coming?

Chris xx

[sid]

I'm glad that you like it, and sorry, no sequel planned. :-P

[perfica]

Amazing! The title and the way they communicated their true selves to each other was so apt.

[sid]

I was amazingly happy when I stumbled on that title! :-D

[heather_mist]

Clever! And, not being very familiar with later seasons, this does sound pretty early to me (ie I recognised it!). I also did as I was told and googled - very very clever!!

Plus I do love it when the lightbulb at last goes ping for Daniel and he gets it... Sweet!

[sid]

Thanks, dearie! I was googling 'ping', all the while thinking, "Yeah, but that's really sonar, not radar...OH!" :-D

[princessofgeeks]

This is just beautiful. I love how you captured Jack "on a mission", an extremely difficult one.

I love how this opened up such gorgeous vistas for Daniel.

Wow. Just wow.

(Oh, and to answer your question: I don't think it feels like season 1. But that's just me. I would probably put it a bit later. But it works either way I think. )

[sid]

Special Ops!Jack can handle all difficult and delicate missions with aplomb. Cuz he's a hero.

(I can see it in Season Two as well, esp. early S2, but the dynamic just felt wrong the further into canon I peered. It's interesting that Sha're's name never came up, but then Jack would know that marriage wasn't the determining factor, and Daniel was a bit stunned. Also, I don't think he'd take her name in vain, as it were.)

[discodiva76]

Oh.........poor boys.....poor Jack.......

This. is. stunning.....my fandom has probably the best writers in the world...

I. love. you.....and them...

xoxoxoxo

[sid]

High praise! I humbly thank you. :-)

[jdjunkie]

Oh, I love it when you're a clever old sid. :-)

This is great. I adore that Jack is trying to protect Daniel in a way that is uniquely Jack.

Definitely has an early seasons feel, no later than early season two I'd say. But what do I know? *g*

Lovely work, baby!

[sid]

Jack's being team leader, friend, protector, counselor...and interested party, perhaps?

Early Season Two was about the latest I was willing to put it. *nods*

Thanks, baby!

[green_grrl]

Oh, Jack and hid bush beating and his not asking and his so very oblique telling! Lovely! So perfectly them.

(Agree, s1-2)

[sid]

Thank you so much!

(*nods* I think so.)

[gategremlyn]

That's just the opening gambit, right? Later (season three-ish)they'll have that talk again? And then other... things will happen.

Lovely! It's layered and subtle and so in character.

[sid]

I think that Season Three-ish conversation is the last thing Jack wants. But by then he'll be so far gone with loving Daniel that it's inevitable!

Thank you!

[lilybertha]

What a fabulous fic. So much conveyed here.

Lou

[sid]

Thank you very much! :-)

[antares_dw]

This is a great dialogue! And I can see Jack confronting a problem just in this way.
(Now all Daniel has to do is to stop whatever he is doing and do it with Jack instead. *g*)

[sid]

(Ah, but is he actually doing anything? Jack didn't ask, and Daniel didn't tell. But he definitely needs to start doing it with Jack, lol!)

[fanficfan_123]

So much read between these lines, with their telling pauses and stop-gap, all-purpose phrases, so artfully arranged here.

[sid]

Lovely to hear! Thank you.

[fanficfan_123]

You're most welcome.

[zats_clear]

awww, something about that made me tear up. Also, I like that it isn't a story about them "getting together" (not that I don't love those, esp yours), so...I read this as canon :)

[sid]

Canon it is, then! :-)

It's about them establishing a commonality, without a word, look or gesture that couldn't be denied. It's about Daniel's eyes being opened.

Jack, meanwhile, is keeping his own eyes firmly shut. *pets him and salutes him*

[spacemonkeyphd2.livejournal.com]

Love it, so subtle and yet it says everything about both of them!!! Need more please!!!

[sid]

*glomps you* Thank you my dear!